Canada



R. S. GALLOP. SPARKING DEVICE ros NTEHNAL comusnon ENGINES.

APPLICAION FILED FEB. H, |917.

` Patented Nov. 25, 19H).

I? lv WITNESSES ,a M

AT TOEN EY the cylinder.

RITOHIE S. T1101, DI' VIGTRIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

SPARKING lnEvIcE Fon INTERNAL-consommer ENGINES.

Speelcatlon ot Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 25, 1919.

Appoation Med February 12, 1917. Serial No. 148,208.

-To'a'll whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I,4 RrrcrneS. Garner, a sub'jectof the"King-of GreatBritain, residin at'Victox-ia, 1n .the Province of British olurnbia andDominion o'f-l Canada, have invented 'certain new and uscfulImprovements in Sparking Devices for In- -ternal-Co'mbustion Engincs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal coinbustion engines, and particularlyto the 1gnition systems therefor.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an iii-:proved sparkplug for use in connection with the Iexploslve cylinder of an internalcombustion engine, and which is capable of being examined, cleaned, orrepaired withougremoving the plug from A further object of the inventionis to provide a plug of this characte;- which incl des a plurality ofseparate and distinct sp rk points, and whlch is capable of beingreadily actuated so as to dispose any of the sparking gaps incommunication with the explosive cylil'ider. still further object of theinvention is to provide in a spark plug of this character, lmprocd meansfor establishing an clert rical connection between the source of cnergyund that pair of points onl 'which is A in conmunication with the exposive cylindcr.

Still fher objects reside in providiiiga mechanism of this characterwhich is capable of bein constructed so as to beapplicable to cy indersof engines now in use; which requires no change in thevwiring of theignition system,'whichris capable of bcing manufactured at comparativelylowv cost; which may be quickly and easily attached to or detached fromthe engine cylinder when required; which is simple 'of constructionand'opcration; and which will prove thoroughly efficient in theattainment of the ends for which it is designed.

Eig'ure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of van internal combustionengine, and illustrating the application of a sparkingmechanismyonstructcd in accordance with the invention;` A

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken Substantially on the line 2--2 of Fig.I;

Fig. 3 is a view of one end of the sparking device; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the opposite end of the sparking device withthe retaining cap removed.

Theinvention in its preferred embodinlcnt includes a barrel, bodyportion or casing indicated at 5, and which is provided with a laterallyprojecting tubular or stem portion (3. The tubular portion Vis threadedLpon its exterior surface so as to be capable of being screwed withinthe spark plug opening of the combustion engine cylinder. The easing 5is novided at a point preferably diametrically opposite to the point ofcommunication of the stem G therewith with an upwardly disposed flange7, and a lid 8 is hinged to the flange and is'capablc of closing theopening defined thereby.

This casing is constructed preferably ol' metal, but it is obvious thatother nnlterials may be used if desired.

llotatably mounted within tbc barrel or casing 5 is a spark plug, in theforni of a core 9. This core is constructed of suitable non-comluetingmaterial, and is of a Size to lit snugly within the barrel. This core isprovided wilh notched or cut away porlions Il), the said portions beingso located upon the core as to be capable of opening info the hollowstem portion (3 and the opening defined by the llange 7, and within eachof the notched portions is located a pair pl' sparking points 11. 'lhesparking points in the present instance are formed oy extendingconductors l2 longitudinally of the core and spaced inwardly I'rom theouter surface of l'hc latter. Une rnd ol each of the conductors extendsoutwardly as at 13, and engages with the inner wall of the mctalliccasing fr. The opposite ends of the conductors project beyond theextremity of the cole and provide ront-act points 14.

'Ilnl end of the coro opposite to that at which the contacts 14 arelocated is provided with a turn key l5, by ini-ans of which the plug mayhe readily rotated. Adjacent the last named end of the mrc andprojecting from one side thereof is a pin or projection 16, which isadepti-dto engage stops 17 formed on the end ofthe easing or barrel 5.The projection and stopslG-l are so arranged that when engagml. one ofthel notched portions 10 of the core will be in communication with thehollow stem (i, while the other notched porlion will be disposeddirectly beneath thelid or cover 8 of the casing.' When the plug isrotated S0 ap at that the. projection 1G is engaged with the oppositelyarranged stop, the notched portions 10 will be in reverse iosition.

The means by which t e conductors 13 are operatively connected with theignition system includes a standard 18 secured to and insulated from thecylinder of the engine adjacent the contacts 14 of the rotatable plug.This standard is yoked at its upper portion so as to )roride a pair ofspaced arms, within whic the protrudin contacts 14 upon the core areconfined. ese contacts however can only engage the standard 1S one atmtime, and the arrangement is such that one or the other of the contactsis engaged only when the plug has been rotated to its extreme limit inone direction or the other. The standard 18 constitutes a terminal ofthe ifnition circuit, and it is apparent from theorcgoing that onlythose sparking` points which are in communication with the hollow stein6 are energized.

Any approved means can be employed for maintaining the core in properposition within Ithe casing 5, but inthe present `instance. a detachableferrule 20 is threaded upon one end of the barrel and encloses theadjacent end of the core, while a nut .21 is th readedl y engagedwith areduced portion at the opposite end of the core. The ferrule and nutprevent movement of the core longitudinally of the casing, but permit ofthe. core being freely rotated.

When the standard 178 is properly connected with a source of energy andthe core 9. has been rotated to its limit in one direction, it isapparent that one of the contacts 17 will be engaged 'with the terminal18 so that the electrical circuit is completed; it being understood ofcourse` that the circuit will be grounded through the engine cylinder.by reason of the constant engagement of the end 13 of the conductor withthe easin or barrel 5. When in the position indicate in Fig. 2,' the sark gap at'the lower side of the'core wil be in direct communicationwith the interior of the cylinder, while the the upper part of the corewill he is sed beneath the lid or cover 8. Should it e desired to cleanor repair the spark points 11, the lid may be raised, whereby access mabe readily had to the said oint.

From tile foregoing it is apparent trat I have'provided an extiemelysimple and yet thoroughly eicient means for the attainment of the endsset forth. The plug may be readily turned when it is ouiu that thesparking points at one side thereof are. inoperative. The plugs may hereadily dctached from thc casing when desired. so :is to be supplementedby new' plugs. I have described the plug or core in the pieseut instanceas being provided with a pan' of conductors 12, but it will beunderstood that any desired number of such conductors may y ginecylinder; of a core rotatablfy be provided upon the core if foundexpedient.

While the present disclosure is that of what I believe to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be madein the construction, arrangement, and proportion of parts, without de)artin r from the spirit of the invention, as efineriiin the appendedclaims.

It will be seen thafthe device is especially ada ted for use with motorsof aeroplanes as t e plug may be turned in Hight should engine troubleor fouling occur, and this will obriatethe necessity of descending andalightinrr to make re iairs, as hy changing the ordihary type o plugs.The notches or out away portions 10 also produce cups permitting theelectrodes to be primed by opening the cover or lid 8, so that when thelug is thrned a half revolution the. Spar 'ng system will be' operativeand operation of the motor may be continued. The, uppermost electrodesmay also be conve.3 ientlyl cleaned of carbon deposit, corrosion or oter foreign matt/er,l by opening the cap 8, so that it will `always beready for use, inasmuch as any or all of the plugs may be changed tobringl into operative position a `clean set of electrodes, without thenecessity of stopping the engine.

1. The combination with a eoinliustlon engine cylinder; of a corerotatably mounted on said cylinder transversely of the axis thereof,sparkingr points arranged in pairs upon said core and being adapted onepair at a time tobe placed in communication with the interior of saidcylinder without removing the same, and means for closing4 an .electriccircuit through each pairA of' points when one of such airs are invoomunication with the interior of said cylin- 2. The combination with acombustion enmounted on said cylinder transversely o the' 'h eldthereof, sparking axially upon said core and being adapted one pair at atime to be placed in communication with the interior of said cylinder, aterminal, and the points of each pair lacing connected with saidterminal when in communication with the cylinder.I

3. The combination with a combustion engine cylinder; of a corerotatably mou'nted diametrically for rotation at 4right angles to thecircle thereof on' said cylinder, a plurality of conductorslongitudinally on said core, each Yconductor having a spark gap adaptedto be vplaced in communication with the interior of said cylinder uponrotation of said core, a terminal` and the saidLoonductors being engagedwith said terminal when points arranged in pairs ist tion with theinterior of said cylinder, and

means .for closing a circuit through said points when the latter are in-communication with the cylinder.

5. The combination with a combustion exigine cylinder; of a spark plugrotatably mounted upon said cylinder across the axis thereof, sparkingpoints arranged in spaced relation upon said plug and adapted uponmovement of the latter to be placed one pair at atime in communicationwith the interior of the cylinder at the head thereof, means forlimiting the movement of said plug, and the said points being incommunication with a"source-of electrical energy only when incommunication with said cylinder.

6. In a. device of the class described, a casing, a stem projectinglaterally from the casing, a core rotatably mounted in said casing atright angles to the stem, a pair of spark points carried by said coreand being adapted upon rotation of the latter to he moved into and outof communication with Said stem.

7. In a device of the class described, a

casing, a hollow stein projecting laterally from said casing, a cors ofinsulating material ,rotatably mounted insaid casing and interceptingthe stem, the said coi-c being provided with spaced recesses,sparkpoints in ,said recesses, thc said recesses heilig adapted uponrotation of said core to move into ,or out of communication with saidstein,

and means for limiting the movement of rotation of said core in eitherdirection.

y 8. In a device of the class described, a casing, a hollow stemprojecting from said casing, a core rotatably mounted in said cas ing,`spark points carried vby said core and being adapted selectively to bebrought into communication with said stem, and a; ferrule for .holdingsaid core against longitudinal movement within said casing.

9. In a device of the class described, a hollow casing, a hollow stemcommunicating with said casing at one side thereof and intermediatelyits ends, a core rotatably mounted in said casing at right angles to theaxis thereof. conductors in said core, the said conductors beingprovided with spark gaps adapted upon rotation of the core to be movedselectively into communication with said hollow stem, and the ends ofsaid conductors projecting from seid core for cooperation with a circuitcloser.

10. In a device of the class described, a hollow casing, a hollow steincommunicating with one side of said casing, the said casing beingprovided with an opening` a core rotatably mounted in said casing, pairsof spark points carried by said core and being adapted upon rotation ofsaid core to move into communication with .said stem, a uut threaded ouone cud of .said core for holdin(r the latter against movementlongitudinal 'of tbc casing. menus for holding said' coro. againstlongitudinal movement, one of ouch of Suid 1min'. of spark pointsengaging thc vasiuig and n contact mom'ln-r for engagement b v the otherspark points imlcpcndcutly` ln testimony whereof l ailix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

RllCHl E S. GALLO.

Witnesses:

.Toxin E. BUncn, SELINA Amener.

